If others in the UK are looking at this thread and considering buying a set of P series ND and grad filters, I have recently purchased a set of Hitech filters: 3X ND of various strengths and 3 X ND grad (ditto), for total of £50+VAT on special offer from Teamworkphoto.

These are good quality filters that are considered to be more neutral than the Cokins (and rumoured to be made by the same people who make Lee filters), and given the quality, this is a very good price. Teamworkphoto superb - great service and delivered in less than 24 hours.

Depends what you want to do. If you think that you're not likely to use filters frequently, then buying one or two circular threaded filters may be a more useful option than buying into the square filter systems.

If so, don't forget that if you have lenses with different filter diameters, you can always buy a filter to fit the largest lens, and then inexpensive step up rings to enable you to use it also on smaller lenses.

With the two kit lenses, you might want to use a lens protector, but I'd give higher priority to a lens hood because that is more likely to have a direct impact on improving image quality (by reducing the incidence of flare), as well as protecting the lens.

If I was starting from scratch, the only filter I would start with is a circular polariser. I'd try and buy a good one because they tend to be thinner (less vignetting on your lens) and have higher quality coatings. They are worth searching out on the www, as the prices vary enormously and you can find them remarkably cheaply if you look carefully. I've had good filter bargains from Amazon.

Over time you might want to add others, and if it gets to the stage when you decide you want to use neutral density filters (you'll know when you want them - if you need to ask at this stage, then don't bother just yet!) then that's also the time to consider buying into a system like the Cokin P mentioned above. An alternative and similar system, which is slightly more expensive but also of higher quality, is Hitech - I have their filter holder and some ND and grad filters that I am very happy with.

Only possible if it came with PK-A adapter. If it did, I think from memory there may be a lever that you press on the adapter itself to get to the AE setting.

Jon

I like them too! Always been a fan of shots like these taken wide open with great background blur.

Scary thing is, I think Morgan is the largest volume British owned car manufacturer now!

My Dad used to have one in the 70's - when I was young enough to be asked to clean the wire wheels....

Keep the OM1 and give it a whirl - great classic camera!

You can have occasional luck in London.

LCE on The Strand sell quite a lot of secondhand stuff, but you don't often see things beyond kit lenses.

West End Cameras on Tottenham Court Road have a small collection, but do occasionally have old Pentax primes in stunning condition. I have bought a 50mm SMCM macro and a 35mm SMCM from them, and both were in as new condition. They also recently had a gorgeous black MX, but I needed to get out of the shop before I got too interested....

Opposite West End Cameras is Kingsley Photographic - a great dealer who don't do Pentax new, but do have quite an extensive commission sale department. I've seen some quite intersting lenses in there on occasion - eg 300mm SMCA*.

Camera World on Wells Street seems to be doing more secondhand stuff recently, so may be worth a quick check. Another gorgeous MX in there...

York Cameras near the British Museum have quite a lot of secondhand gear but the prices are often rather optimistic and need to be bargained down. Opposite them is Camera City, if you want to buy overpriced dust-covered lenses that probably haven't been moved off the shelves for years.

It's really down to luck and occasionally things work in your favour! However, I agree that Internet and some of the large dealers elsewhere (eg Ffordes, Mifsuds, Camaerthen Cameras) may be more fruitful.

Depends how cheap you want to go.

I use a Marumi close up filter to good effect on a digital compact with 72mm filter (not that compact...). It cost around £20 from Microglobe, and was well worth the money. Cameraworld also sell them and I am sure they would pair well with the kit zooms.

You could also use extension tubes, which will give great image quality but will certainly require a tripod. PKA extension tubes for Pentax are hard to find and expensive when you do (upwards from £50).

I would not hesitate to buy a manual focus macro lens - auto focus is not always terribly useful with a macro. I have a Pentax 50mm SMCM 1:2 lens which is pocketable and great quality. For longer reach, my first secondhand choice would be the original Tamron 90mm f2.5 lens. Around £100 if you can track a good one down.

Sent you a PM about the *Ist D.

Cheers,

Jon

Hi and welcome. The Kx will be a very good entry to the dSLR world, and you may find it's a hit with family members beyond your wife! It may be entry level, but the image quality is very good, and if you wish, you can have just as much control as with a mid-range camera.

In your shoes, I suppose one question is whether you mind changing lenses - there's quite a difference between taking pictures of kids and taking pictures of robins! The twin lens kit would certainly give you more flexibility for both situations and good image quality for the money.

I don't know the price difference between the single and twin lens kits, but my instinct would be to go for the latter if it's less than an extra £100 or so. If the differential is closer to £200, you won't lose out much by starting with the 18-55, seeing if it suits you, and adding a telezoom at a later stage.